Chapter 12 The Videotape

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[Video Tape (Xiaoming’s Bloodstained Wedding)]

[Item Quality: Inferior]

[Item Description: A box of disorganized, chaotic recordings. Probably only a fool or the director would bother to keep watching.]

[Synopsis: Xiaohong from room 403 is about to marry Xiaoming. What gifts will everyone send them, I wonder?]

A bloodstained wedding in room 403?

Ji Linmo’s eyes brightened instantly. He sensed that this tape was the key to unraveling the secret of the ghost bride.

“Big brother, sit tight. I spent a long time filming this movie!”

Click, clack!

As Nie Haohao inserted the tape into the player, the old television began to flicker with monochrome static.

Hiss!

Hiss! Hiss!

After a cacophony of busy signals, the screen flashed with a hazy image.

— On a blood-red background, three crooked words appeared.

“Enter the bridal chamber”

The image abruptly shifted. Nie Haohao held up the Xiaoming doll, incessantly kissing the Xiaohong doll.

Mua~

The two dolls were pressed together, accompanied by exaggerated voice acting from the boy.

“Xiaohong! I love you so much! Mua~”

“I love you too~ husband.”

“Oh, stop it~ don’t press on the baby in my belly…”

Boom!

After a heavy kick to the door, a sharp knife suddenly appeared on screen.

“How did you get in here? What do you want?!”

The Xiaoming doll grabbed a kitchen knife from beside the bed, shielding the Xiaohong doll behind him. Then, his mouth opened wide.

A parade of sharp knives entered, each blade topped with a doll.

— The dolls’ arms and legs were torn apart, revealing white stuffing from their bellies, stuck to the knife tips like decorations.

“Hey, Xiaoming, you’re enjoying life too much. The rest of us are starving, can’t pay rent, and here you are with food and drink, wife and child warm in this haunted place.”

The sharp knives drew closer.

“Don’t come any closer… Xiao… Xiaofeng!”

“No use calling; that guy Xiaofeng is already dead as a doornail.”

The picture shook violently. Outside the blurry background, shrill screams and desperate pleas echoed ceaselessly.

Finally, doors pasted with the “Double Happiness” character appeared frozen on screen.

The knives rushed in, dragging out dolls lying on the floor, stabbing deep into their cotton bodies.

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“Help, help!”

“What are you doing?!”

On the gray floor, countless torn dolls lay scattered.

A red paper banner pasted on the corridor wall slipped silently to the ground.

— All game players in Ruolan Community congratulate Xiaoming and Xiaohong on their marriage, wishing them everlasting harmony, peace, and happiness!

The image flickered again.

The Xiaoming doll stepped back and abruptly knelt.

“Brother, brother! We never provoked you, please spare my wife’s life. She’s pregnant!”

“Hahaha! Even better! Another child to sell to the vending machine!”

“If you ask me, it’s your own fault—you losers acting like a family, even helping with the wedding. Playing games, huh? Anyway, you rookies will die sooner or later. Might as well kill you now, trade your organs for ghost coins, and give us a way out.”

Thud!

The television screen went black.

“Haohao, didn’t Mommy tell you not to watch TV carelessly?”

A slender, delicate hand pressed the TV’s power button.

“Mom! Please, it’s just getting to the best part! Let me show big brother!”

Nie Haohao clasped his hands together, pleading.

But Nie Xiaolan’s face turned cold. She picked up the tape and headed toward her bedroom.

“Haohao, you’re misbehaving again. I won’t allow you to watch anymore.”

[Guest Notice]

[3. Entry into the bedroom is forbidden]

Ji Linmo’s gaze darkened.

It seemed Nie Xiaolan was determined not to let him watch the rest of the tape.

After leaving her bedroom, Nie Xiaolan’s smile returned.

She brought several dishes to the table and beckoned Ji Linmo.

“Time to eat. Remember to wash your hands first.”

After washing his hands, Ji Linmo sat quietly at the table.

Steam rose from the soup pot as she lifted the lid.

The meal was nothing like he’d expected—not some inhuman fare, but homely, ordinary dishes.

— Pork rib and winter melon soup, smashed cucumber and chilled century egg, steamed buns.

“Breakfast should be hearty,” Nie Xiaolan said, smiling as she ladled rib soup for Ji Linmo.

“Eat more. There’s plenty.”

The rules made no mention of food.

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So, under Nie Xiaolan’s eager gaze, Ji Linmo picked up his spoon, though he didn’t drink right away out of caution.

Wisps of steam curled from the bowl, carrying a tempting aroma.

Unlike the vending machine’s instant products, the slow-simmered pork ribs were rich and tender, filling the air with a robust meaty scent. The refreshing winter melon complemented the soup, making every sip linger delightfully on the palate.

Could such delicious rib soup truly be made by a human?

“Caw! Poison! Poison!”

A piercing cry suddenly rang out, halting Ji Linmo as he was about to lift his spoon to his mouth.

The black cloth concealing the source of the sound in the living room fell to the floor.

— Without the cover, the birdcage revealed a snow-white cockatoo with golden feathers atop its head, staring intently at Ji Linmo.

“Caw! Poison! Poison! Run away!”

Ji Linmo frowned as Nie Xiaolan’s gaze turned peculiarly strange.

“Sir, did you see something?” Nie Xiaolan edged closer to Ji Linmo, whispering in his ear, her breath as light as an orchid.

“For instance, a parrot?”

Ji Linmo stared coldly at Nie Xiaolan, his frown deepening.

Before him, Nie Xiaolan smiled, but her eyes seemed ready to burst open, the eyeballs bulging.

“If you didn’t see or hear anything, then why won’t you eat my cooking?”

“Ma’am, you’re mistaken.”

Ji Linmo tore off a piece of steamed bun and put it in his mouth, then picked up the spoon.

“The soup’s too hot. I wanted to wait a bit.”

Watching the man’s Adam’s apple move as he swallowed the soup, Nie Xiaolan smiled contentedly.

“Looks like I really misunderstood you.”

Ji Linmo said nothing, picking up the bowl and eating with relish—one bite of bun, one sip of soup, finishing half the bowl of rib soup.

His ravenous manner made Nie Xiaolan nod in satisfaction, her face alight with joy.

“Very good, very good.”

[System notification: “Ghost Teacher - Nie Xiaolan” status changed to Joyful]

[Her favorability toward you +15]

“By the way, sir, I heard from Old Master Ma that you live in room 403, right?”

“I need to go to work soon. Could you watch over Haohao for a while? I’ll reward you handsomely.”

[Mission triggered]

[Take care of Nie Haohao]

[Mission description: Nie Haohao will be home alone and needs supervision. He’s quite a mischievous child. Do you have confidence in watching over him?]

[Mission reward: 600 ghost coins]